Well today is the day. In about two hours I will fly from Whangarei to Auckland and all being well from there via Brisbane to Singapore.
The last few days have been fairly busy but I think that I've sorted out most of the things that needed to be sorted and everything else can wait till I get back from my travels.

Saw the doctor today and got my pills and potions for the upcoming trip. Actually more to the point I got about half of them as the chemist isn't supposed to dispense more then three months worth of pills at a time. The way around this, as I anticipate to be away at least twice that long, is to get another script tomorrow and go to different pharmacy. Stupid but true.

Tried to buy some traveller cheques from the bank yesterday. What a performance. First I went to my regular branch where they have a sign at the foreign exchange desk promoting the sale of American Express Traveller cheques. So I approached the teller and requested USD 2,500, this got met with a vacant stare and a look towards her supervisor who shook her head. I was still waiting for an answer but as none was forthcoming I asked again this time they deigned to speak to me and said we haven't got that much in stock try our other branch in town. I was furious but stomped of to the other branch anyway. They made up for the sullen approach of their colleagues by at least arranging to order my TC's in; they didn't have them in stock either. Then I also wanted some cash US dollars in tens and twenties, always handy for the odd last minute purchase or to smooth the way with officials in the countries I plan to visit. This was again rather difficult and I ended up with a combination of five and fifty dollar notes. Sometimes I really wonder if I am the only one in town that goes on overseas trips.

Just a quick note to let everyone know that I am still alive.
The last few days I have been staying at Bron's place and spend most of my time either playing with Daniel or reading Peter Hamilton's new book Pandorra's star.
I also finally managed to figure out what I was doing wrong with my photo pages and have managed to fix that now. So far I have only placed some photos in the Singapore section to test the concept. The photos are actually from Bali and will be replaced with the real Mc Coy once I start my travels in two weeks time.

The visit to the dentist went remarkably well. I have an abiding fear of dental work but this was as painless as they can manage. So cavities filled and teeth cleaned that should be one thing less to worry about on my trip.

Over the last few days I have been working on and off on my website and have started to put some info up on my itinerary, accommodation and the packing list so if you feel so inclined have a look. Unfortunately the photo pages are still not functioning but I am confident that I will have it up and running in a few days.

A quiet day sending email to a few people and working on my web site. I have now got the basics the way I want them but I am still coming to grasp with setting up a page of thumbnails and the larger pictures behind them. However I am sure I'll get there.

Tomorrow I have to visit the dentist not something I am looking forward to but I don't want to get dental problems in the middle of nowhere.

Very much a standard weekend, breakfast at Botanix some lazing around the house and keeping Daniel entertained. Something that these days mainly consist of him jumping on the trampoline and prompting me to pick him up and throw him in the air so he gets extra lift for his jumps.

On Sunday morning we all went out for the Beach to Basin walk. Bronwyn pushing Laura in the pram and me and Dave guiding Daniel on his push bike. There were plenty of participants apparently over 1500 in all.

Travel wise I have decided to book two nights in the Madras Hotel in Singapore I haven't stayed there before but it gets an Ok write up in the Lonely Planet and their prices are reasonable.

I changed the template that I use for this blog to something more to my liking and I have also started work on a logo. The half finished version will be replaced with the complete one when it's done.

One of the things that had been nagging me at various times, except when I was near a computer, was that I hadn't bought a ticket from Whangarei to Auckland yet. So I fixed that up this afternoon and forked out seventy six dollars for a one way trip on Air New Zealand.

As I am very much still trying to come to grips with blogging and how to add features to my site you will notice the odd bit unrelated to travel coming up in here. In this case here, if all goes well, is a picture of my young friend Daniel.

There is at least some tenuous relation to travel here in that I undoubtedly will miss him a great deal.

I guess that the idea of a blog is that you make regular entries to it. So in spite of the fact that I didn't do much in regards to my trip today I feel more or less compelled to write anyway.

One of the things that has been crossing my mind is what do you take with you on a trip like this? I have narrowed it down to a 25 litre backpack and the following.
Toiletries & First Aid Kit
2 T-shirts
1 Dress shirt
1 pair Shorts (That double as swimming togs)
1 pair of Trousers
4 pair of Underwear
1 pair of Tevas
Now comes the hard part. Should I take a pair of hiking boots as well? How about a rain coat or a sweater? I haven't made up my mind yet on that.
Overall whatever goes on the final list it has all to fit within the above mentioned backpack.

Another thing that has been occupying my mind is the fact that my flight to Singapore arrives at 2.15 in the morning. That means that even if things go smoothly as they usually do in Singapore I won't be through immigration and customs before 3 am. At that time of the night it will be difficult to find a hostel that is open and wiling to check me in, so should I stay on the airport and wait till morning light before I go into town or should I book a room in a more up market property with twenty four hour check in facilities?

Anyway all this and more will be decided at some stage....Tomorrow maybe?

Hmm... I noticed an error in my previous post. It gives the impression that I will fly to all the countries mentioned, that isn't true, the intention is just to fly to Singapore and go overland from there on.

Whangarei 03/03/2004
The purpose of this Blog is to keep family and friends posted on where I am and what I am doing on my trip upcoming trip through Asia.
It is my intention to fly to Singapore at the end of March and from there to Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and China. So far I have bought my tickets and a few travel guides but otherwise I am fairly uncommitted as to what to see and do once I get there.
Anyway more thoughts on this to follow later.